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Acacia (Yellow Mimosa)

Instead of making a toast with a juicy cocktail of mimosa, I decided to raise a couple of perfume bottles and honor the early spring and the bright yellow flowers boasting their sunshiny clusters on the branches of their threes.

The tiny green leaves are almost inconspicuous alongside these lovely yellow flowers that smell so familiar and unique. Who would say this beautiful and breezy tree has thorns?

This species is one that confuses people all over the world by its name. Its true name is Acacia, although some European nations and Russians use this name to refer to the locust tree. It belongs to the family of Mimosoideae, which is a subspecies of the family Fabaceae.

It originates from Australia, but what is really interesting is that the flowers of the main species aren’t yellow at all, but pink. The family counts more than 1,300 different species (as many as 960 in Australia alone), but this yellow species, which can also be found in our region, inspires me today (subspecies of Acacia dealbata, Acacia covenyi, etc.).

If someone were to ask me how to easily describe the flower of yellow mimosa, I would say that it reminds me of the waves, full of sun, full of sweetness, soft and dreamy. Their sweet green scent perfectly describes the awakening of nature, which is once again reborn to enjoy its new youth. For me, mimosa is the essence of happiness and youth, pure and loud, just like girlish laughter.

If I were to name a color that represents happiness, that would certainly be yellow. If I were to name a flower that represents me, I would choose the yellow mimosa.

Photos: Mimosa Golden Forest by Michel Roudnitska

Mimosa grows as a tree with a high crown, just like a shrub or a climber. The most attractive parts of this tree are the flowers, collected in a blossom of protruding bright yellow stamens which dominate the tiny green leaves. There are so many species of mimosa, in different colors and with different leaves. I will now turn to the one most brightly yellow, fragrant and sweet.

When we taste this wonderful and sunny embrace of all creations inspired by mimosas, we can easily imagine how beautiful and delicious is the honey made from its yellow blossoms. Mimosa honey is one of the few that does not crystallize, and is characterized by its mild floral aroma and delicate texture.

In addition to the scent and taste, mimosa is a notable symbol among many nations. For Masons, mimosa is a symbol of purity and the endurance of the soul. In Italy, Russia and many other countries, this flower is linked to the International Women's Day holiday (March 8th), when women are given a beautiful bouquet of these yellow flowers. Mimosa is also a symbol of immortality and resurrection.

I really love to see the flower vendors offering the first mimosa bouquets while my hometown is still covered in white snow, frozen by winter. The yellow branches make me happy. I love to see them so cheerful and almost laughing, so pleased to be here and contrasting the white snow, pronouncing the first days of Belgrade spring. Mimosas smell fabulous on the fresh cool air.

And only for a moment, they’re carrying me away to warmer areas near the sea, where people celebrate the feast of the mimosa each year, while they bloom and smell in their full glory and beauty. Herceg Novi, a small coastal town in Montenegro, has traditionally celebrated the Mimosa Festival for many years. Young girls—majorettes—parade in their uniforms along the sunny waterfront to celebrate this wonderful holiday which takes place each February. This interesting flower carnival is followed by many cultural, tourism and sporting events.

Yellow fragrant bouquets of mimosa are a source of inspiration for many perfumers, painters, and artists. Their sweet honey flavor, greenish and tart at the same time, delicate and intimate, friendly and smiling, is a true adornment to ambrosial compositions.

I would pick L'Artisan Mimosa Pour Moi as one of my favorites. It links the sweet and floral, tart and green, fresh and thick sweetness, a scent that certainly brings out a smile and offers tranquility and recklessness. In addition to the scent of flowers, this composition is woven from its green leaves and twigs, accenting the whole fragrant story of mimosa, and encircled by bitter and rich cranberries. L'Artisan Mimosa remains on the skin for quite a long time, while being not too sweet and very natural. True joy.

Fragonard Mimosa is very similar to L'Artisan’s Mimosa Pour Moi. It is somewhat greener, very durable, also cheerful, sunny and sweet. Both fragrances are characterized by the crystal-clear view of the flower without the heavy, sweet, powdery or honey-like elements. Another fresh and floral mimosa comes from Yves Rocher. If you are looking for a green floral scent of the yellow mimosa, you should certainly try this one.

Yves Rocher Pur Desir de Mimosa mingles green notes with the absolute of mimosa, offering a cheerful and honest illustration of awakening of the spring. Gourmands willing to try a little almond along with their sweet-honey mimosa should try L'Occitane Mimosa d'Esterel and allow themselves to be carried away by its aroma, to an imaginary journey to the shores of the Mediterranean.

Powdery sweet, honeyed and polleny, this mimosa will give you a fistful of sweet almonds, creating a creamy, powdery trace on your skin. Neither is this mimosa sweetened to the maximum. It is rather slightly chilled with the leaves of violet, offering the peace and harmony of the Mediterranean region where it was picked.

A nice and creamy scent of mimosa, together with your dose of happiness, can be found in Summer by Kenzo edition. This smell is not as sparkling on my skin as my other green and shiny favorites, L'Artisan Mimosa Pour Moi and Fragonard Mimosa. It is instead made of creamy and milky tones that soothe the fragrance. Kenzo Summer by Kenzo includes citrus, which raises the whole composition to a “higher octave,” but without any sparks. Almonds are omnipresent. The smell of sun and warmth, the scent of summer, just as the name suggests.

If you prefer it when mimosa is not offered in its full strength, seek Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Tiare Mimosa. This fragrant water is a romantic refreshment, like a pleasant dream. If you want a gentle fragrance that offers freshness and feminine flavors combined from pink pepper, tiare flower and mimosa, then you should try Tiare Mimosa. This fragrance will cherish your skin, only for awhile, with a gentle stroke of vanilla.

Your dream about the perfect trip to Paris, following a road covered with mimosa-yellow petals, would certanly be found in a bottle of timeless Champs Elysees. In this fragrance, mimosas are in a very pleasant and sophisticated company, flirting with fruit juices of cantaloupe, sliced peaches, violet flower petals, peony, lilac, and hibiscus… refreshed by currant and anise, cuddling on a warm and easy base of wood, resin and vanilla. Paris in full bloom, the steps filled with happiness and joy, the flowery and creamy scent of mimosa that lingers after a woman who wears Champs Elysees.

Givenchy pays a special attention to this flower from year to year. Their epic fragrance Amarige carries the sweet juice of mimosa, combining an extremely feminine floral fragrance with the absolute of sunny mimosa. In the last couple of years, Givenchy offers its Harvests, sweetened with high-quality mimosas, as new limited editions. All Givenchy Harvests are excellent creations, enviable in quality, durability and for their timeless beauty.

Among recent editions, one that is really worth mentioning is the Hermes Caleche Fleurs de Mediterranee, a fragrance based on Mimosa trees surrounded by sunflowers, jasmine and roses, refreshed with the leaves of violet and enriched with subtle and warm aromas of honey and beeswax.

The last edition in our story is the latest one. It is the Annick Goutal Le Mimosa fragrance, created to honor the rebirth of nature. The fragrance is a poetic reinterpretation of this magnificent flower, which highlights the absolute blossom of mimosa from Grasse, surrounded by powdery iris from Florence, thick peach juices, anise and white musk. The scent is floral and fruity, and was created by Isabelle Doyen.

Thanks a lot! I'm actually shocked, because I entered Fragrantica specifically to search for Mimosa perfumes -))) It's a very spring flower and a very spring scent. I still haven't decided which of the perfumes is the best, but I want them all!

Mar 05 2011

SedNonSatiata

Thank you for this homage to mimosa. I'm addicted to the smell of mimosa flowers. Now if only mimosa fragrances smelled like them. Alas. But in my endless search I've grown to like mimosa perfumes, even though they don't remind me much of the flower. I'm eager to try the new Goutal.

Mar 04 2011

distortech

Fantastic.

Mar 03 2011

Ina_Mo

Sandrina outdid herself with her poetic language in this article! I think she hit the essence of mimosa and described perfectly its tiny flowers,scent, feeling it awakes and awakening of spring. And what better time for an article on mimosa than early spring? I always link the International day of women, March 8th, with this yellow flower and it makes me smile whenever I see it in the street or at the florist's. Montenegrins celebrate mimosa for a whole month by organizing Days of mimosa in Heceg Novi at the seaside. I wish I could visit it!
As for perfumes, I have two with a dominant mimosa note and I can say that both of them are very lady-like, elegant and creamy, and these are Champs Elysees and Kenzo Summer.

Mar 03 2011

sandrina_bambina

Mimosa is one of my favorite flowers. Thank you all for your kind words and your perfume suggestions for more mimosa editions!

Mar 02 2011

Fragrance

Really Beautiful article Sandrina. Reading this article is a Joy. and I really enjoyed it. :)
Definitely going to try one of these perfumes during the Spring...

Mar 01 2011

PassionBR

Your article took me to places that you mentioned.

Thank you for this charming and poetic journey!!

Mar 01 2011

dina

As usual lovely article Sandrina and in time :)

Would love to test Kenzo summer but don't know which version should I go for ?

I would also add to your great list:
Too Much Champs Elysees de Guerlain, a real ode to the mimosa...

Mar 01 2011

Sherihan

would like to try Givenchy's Mimosa,or Yeves Rocher's, I think they will represent Mimosa the best.

Mar 01 2011

sherapop

I was delighted to find this bright tribute to mimosa when I logged on today. Thank you so much! Let there be mimosa, indeed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Feb 28 2011

a.k.a.warum

Thank you very much for this article!
This Spring I plan to test several mimosa fragrances, and I found all of them (except mimosa by DSH perfumes) in your article. I am especially grateful for clarifying for me the names of the species and the difference between mimosa, acacia and locust. I was born and raised in Europe and my husband is American (US born), so we could never agree on what mimosa is. now I know why. He'll enjoy this article when I read it to him in the evening.

Feb 28 2011

pitbull friend

Lovely article, Sandrina! And very informative. I don't think I have tried any mimosa other than the L'Artisan one - this makes me want to try some more!

Feb 28 2011

larali

I need some mimosa in my life! How gorgeous!

Feb 28 2011

Matin

Wonderful article!! , You can learn many things , thanks.

I am passionate about mimosa and although I could not smell all the above I agree with you that L'Artisan Mimosa Pour Moi is great, so pure and beautiful. And Summer by Kenzo a beautiful combination with a refreshing touch and a powdery substance that I love!. Yves Rocher Pur Desir Mimosa so I smelled and although it is very accomplished, for me this do not has the purity of L'Artisan.

Feb 28 2011

rainbow.owl

lovely article, I really enjoyed reading it - thank-you!

Feb 28 2011

naheed

So beautifully written! Last year, on 8th March, my Italian friend wished us all female friends by tagging us on a picture of brightly coloured yellow flowers on FB and now I have learnt that it was Mimosa. This article has been very informative to my learning and the agreement by Marlen on L'Artisan's Mimosa pour Moi has made me curious to sniff mimosa flowers.

Feb 28 2011

perfumecritic

WOW! What a beautiful and interesting article, Sandrina! And I agree, L'Artisan's Mimosa pour Moi is one of the most successful mimosa scents. I was also quite surprised by Demeter's 2009 Mimosa fragrance (Vintage Naturals). It strayed from powder and emphasized the sweet fruitiness mimosa sometimes offers. I can't wait to read your future fragrance notes columns : )

Feb 28 2011

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